A Day with Two Perspectives

On Monday, October 13, 2025, our nation will recognize two holidays on the same date: Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Both observances tell important stories, and families can use this day to learn from multiple perspectives in history.

What is Columbus Day?

• Columbus Day became a U.S. federal holiday in 1937.

• It honors Christopher Columbus’s 1492 voyage and the era of European exploration that followed.

• The holiday has been especially meaningful in Italian American communities, who celebrate Columbus as a symbol of heritage and cultural pride.

• For many, Columbus Day highlights the spirit of exploration, discovery, and cultural contributions of immigrant communities.

📖 History of Columbus Day – History.com

What is Indigenous Peoples’ Day?

• Indigenous Peoples’ Day began in the 1990s when cities and states wanted to recognize the peoples who were already living in the Americas long before Columbus arrived.

• It celebrates Native history, culture, and ongoing contributions today.

• Families use the day to learn about local Tribal Nations, read Native authors, and honor the resilience of Indigenous communities.

📖 History of Indigenous Peoples’ Day – Berkeley’s Story

Why do both matter?

Some families celebrate Columbus Day, some celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and some recognize both. Talking with kids about why people value each holiday helps them see how history has many sides.

Encourage open discussion:

• Why do Italian Americans value Columbus Day?

• Why do Native peoples and their allies value Indigenous Peoples’ Day?

• How can we respect both heritage and truth in history?

Learn & Explore Together

Columbus Resources

• 🎥 Columbus Discovers America – National Geographic Video – A video exploring Columbus’s journey, the spice trade, and the “price of pepper.”

• 🌍 Explorers: Age of Encounter with Google Earth – Interactive map to follow explorers’ routes across the globe.

• 📝 Free Worksheets & Quizzes on Christopher Columbus – Fun printable activities for kids of different ages.

• 📖 Christopher Columbus – My First Biography (Read Aloud) – A simple story for young children about Columbus’s life and journey.

• 🎮 Explorers for Kids – Interactive Games – Free games and activities to explore history through play.

Indigenous Resources

• 📘 FREE Indigenous Peoples’ Day Lessons & Activities (TechLearning) – A roundup of great free resources for families and teachers.

• 🎥 Fry Bread read-aloud (PBS) – Food, family, and tradition.

• 🙏 We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga – Cherokee gratitude across the seasons.

• 💧 We Are Water Protectors – A call to protect our earth and water.

• 🌍 Indigenous Speakers Share Their Languages on Google Earth – Interactive experience to hear Indigenous languages from around the world.

Cook Together: Recipes

Food is a wonderful way to experience culture! Try one of these dishes as a family:

• 🫓 Fry Bread Recipe (PBS) – A Native staple.

• 🌽 Three Sisters Stew – Corn, beans, and squash.

• 🥔 Wild Rice & Root Vegetable Soup – Nutritious & hearty.

• 🫐 Blueberry Bannock – Indigenous sweet bread.

• 🍝 Italian Pasta Fagioli – A traditional Italian dish to connect with Columbus Day heritage.

Activities for Kids

Little Explorers (K–2)

• Draw Columbus’s ship vs. an Indigenous home.

• Start a gratitude journal after We Are Grateful.

• Help make Fry Bread or Pasta Fagioli.

Pathfinders (3–5)

• Compare two viewpoints: Columbus’s voyage vs. an Indigenous story.

• Make a poster of the “Three Sisters” crops.

• Try a Columbus quiz online and then watch the Nat Geo video.

Navigators (6–8)

• Debate prep: “Should we celebrate Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, or both?”

• Explore explorers’ maps in Google Earth, then Indigenous languages in Google Earth.

• Write about what “discovery” means from more than one perspective.

Explore in Your State

• Idaho – Idaho State Museum, Nez Perce National Historical Park

• Indiana – Eiteljorg Museum

• North Dakota – ND Studies – American Indians of ND

• Oklahoma – First Americans Museum

• Wyoming – Wind River Reservation Programs

This October 13th, let’s remember: history is complex. By learning about both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day, families can honor heritage, celebrate resilience, and encourage children to see the world through multiple perspectives.